Automatic lathe stop switch



p 9, 1941. L. H. HEIGHT 2,255,706

AUTOMATIC LATHE STOP SWITCH Filed March 6, 1941 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Inventor A Home Patented Sept. 9 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. 2.25am AUTOMATIC LATHE STOP SWITCH Leon H. Height, Sp Lake, N. 1.

Application March 8, 1941, Serial No. 382,069

1 Claim. '(Cl. 200-47) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stop means for lathes and other 7 can be readily adjusted to take eifect under different operating conditions of the machine.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a stop switch of the character stated wherein all of the parts are readily accessible for the purpose of repairs or replacement.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side evelational view showing the switch about to be engaged by a moving part of a lathe.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an irregular longitudinal sectional view through the switch.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 3. I

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the clamp plate.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the adjustable contact head.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes the bed of a lathe having a tapered guide rib 6 rising therefrom. Numeral I generally refers to a moving part of the lathe, which moves longitudinally of the bed 5 and serves to actuate the switch generally referred to by numeral 8 when it has advanced sufficiently toward the same.

The switch unit 8 is provided with'a mounting which includes a clamp block 9 having a V-shaped longitudinal channel therein for accommodating the guide rib 6. This channel is located along one longitudinal edge portion of the block 9 while the other longitudinal edge portion, at the bottom side thereof is formed with a narrow channel ID for receiving the upper edge portion of the upturned flange ll of an angle member I2, which is secured by screws l3 to the horizontal flange ll of an angle member l5, this angle member l5 having a. second flange disposed in the opposite direction from the intermediate portion thereof and this second flange is denoted by numeral It, the same being secured by screws i! to a box l8 which forms a housing for the switch mechanism. An elongated tie bolt. It extends downwardly through the block 8 and is screwed through the flanges of the angle members l2 and I5. Thus the angle members and clamp block 9 are clamped against the bottom and top sides of the bed 5, and by simply loosening the tie bolt l9, this mounting can he slid to any adjusted position on the bed 5 desired.

An elongated rod 20 is slidable longitudinally through the box I 8, the same having a removable collar 2! at one end thereof beyond the box It, while its opposite end is threaded as at 22 and threadedly disposed into a knurled contact head 23. A jam nut 24 on the threaded portion 22 prevents accidental unscrewing of the head 23. On the rod 20 is a block 25 of insulation which has a pin 26 extending downwardly therein to protrude into a longitudinal slot 21 in the rod 20. A stop member 28 is provided on the rod 20, while a coiled compression spring 29 is also provided on the rod and interposed between one end of the box l8 and the corresponding end of the block 2 5. Thus the block 25 is heldinsulation. The other end of the contact strip 30 is offset downwardly as at 36 to wiping contact 31. The contact 31 is located on a plate 38 of insulation and as is shown in Figure 3, bushings 39 and 40 extend upwardly through the bottom of the box I! to meet the plates 35 and 38, and binding posts 4| and 42 extend downwardly through the bushings 39 and 40 from the contacts 34 and 31. These binding posts are provided with nuts 43, 44.

One side of the box It is provided with a removable side plate 45 to permit access to the working details of the switch.

Obviously, the spring 29 will serve to maintain the rod 20 and block 25 to the right in Fig- 'ure 3, with the current from a suitable source passing to the lathe power plant (not shown) by way of the binding post ll, contact N, contact lug 33, strip Ill, oflset 86, contact 31 and binding post 42. When the moving part I of the lathe engages the adjustable head 23 and moves the head, the rod 20 will. in turn. move the block 25 to the left in Figure 3, disengaging the lug 33 from the contact 34, thus breaking the supply circuit, and ii desired, a suitable signal lamp maybe employed for indicating the disrupted circuit so that a machinist in a shop can tell from a distance that the lathe is not working, or has completed its job.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

, Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A switch tor-mounting on the bed of a lathe and operation by a lathe part movable along said bed. said switch comprising a housing, an elongated rod extending horizontally through said housing and endwise movable therein from a normal position, a head on said rod-adap d to be engaged by said movable part whereby d rod is moved in one direction, a block of insul tlon material fixed on said rod within said ho ing for movement with the rod, a pair of platelike contacts on the bottom of the housing spaced apart lengthwise of the rod, an elongated bridging conductor of fiat strip metal fixed to the bottom oi said block and having an end slidable over one of said plates and the other end thereof abutting one side of the other plate in the normal position'oi said rod, spring means tensioning said rod against movement in said one direction, and means to mount said housing on said bed.

LEON H. HEIGHT. 

